BOLTS WON’T PURSUE LT, OSGOOD

The Chargers take a variety of factors into account when building a roster.

Nostalgia is not one of them.

General Manager A.J. Smith tossed cold water Monday on any speculation the team might bring back a pair of Pro Bowlers from yesteryear, saying the Chargers will not pursue LaDainian Tomlinson or Kassim Osgood in free agency.

In their heyday, arguably no one in the league was better at their respective craft.

Tomlinson, 32, was the NFL’s top all-purpose running back, averaging 122.5 yards per scrimmage with at least 51 catches in each of his first eight seasons. His nine-year Chargers career is considered one of the greatest in franchise history.

After two years with the Jets spent largely as a passing-down specialist, Tomlinson has said he’s open to returning to San Diego. And his old team needs a backup behind Ryan Mathews.

Will the sides reunite?

“No. We have moved on years ago,” Smith said. “We wish him the very best in his search for the team he feels is the best fit for him. We are looking at four backs right now, but we may slow down that search a little bit. I know (Jets coach) Rex Ryan has said some great things about LT the last couple years. I would think he would bring him back.”

Osgood recorded 95 special teams tackles for the Chargers from 2003 to 2009, fourth-most in the NFL over that span. He went to the Pro Bowl three times.

He then left San Diego searching for a larger offensive role, joining the Jaguars for less money than the Chargers offered.

Osgood, 32, was targeted on 22 passes during two seasons in Jacksonville.

On Monday, Mike Tolbert, the Chargers’ co-leader in special teams tackles last season, agreed to a four-year contract with the Panthers.

Has the door opened for Osgood’s return?

“No,” Smith said. “We have moved on and we feel very comfortable with the special teams guys we have now. As always, we have our eyes on some other guys that we may consider that can help us win. Kassim wants to be a receiver and that just is not going to happen with us.”

Tolbert takes less

After negotiations between the sides hit a standstill Friday, the running back visited North Carolina over the weekend and struck a four-year deal Monday with the Panthers. The pact is worth up to $10 million with $2.7 million guaranteed.

Joel Turner, his agent, said Tolbert fielded interest from 13 teams, including five who made contract offers.

“We actually ended up with a deal that was less than what San Diego wanted to do,” Turner said. “Reality is that cost of living, being closer to home, level of comfortability — he just felt like this was a better situation for him long term.”

They crunched all the numbers, from property and state-income taxes down to gas money.

Tolbert, who entered the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent from Coastal Carolina, decided it fit best to be closer to home despite a contract that paid $1 million less over its life than what the Chargers offered, Turner said.